Battery-charging apparatus



Dec. 26, 1922. 1,439,893. A. J. HORTON.

BATTERY CHARGING APPARATUS.

FILED JAN-17,1920.

:{IIIIIIIBFB IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 26. 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBEBT J'. HORTON, OF WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE CUTLER- HAMMER MFG. 00., OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, CORPORATION OF WIS- oonsnv.

, BATTERY-CHARGING APPARATUS.

Application filed January 17, 1920. Serial No. 352,182.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. ALBERT J. I'IORTON, a, citizen of the United States, residing at \Vhite Plains, in the county of Vestchester and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Battery-Charging Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

, This invention relates to charging apparatus for storage batteries.

An object of the invention is to provide means for connecting a storage battery to a charging circuit and for protecting the battery against improper connection to its charging circuit.

Another object is to provide means of the aforesaid character which will. automati cally disconnect the battery from its charging circuitshould the voltage of the latter drop below that of the former.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

The accompanying drawing illustrates certain embodiments of the invention which will now be described, it being understood that the invention may be embodied -in other forms falling within the scope of the ap pended claims.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 diagrammatically illustrates one embodiment of the invention; and,

Fig. 2 diagrammatically illustrates a modification thereof. I

Referring to Fig. 1 there is illustrated a storage battery B to be connected to a charging circuit 1, 2 supplied by a generator G through a double pole knife switch 3. The battery B is directly connected to one side of the charging circuit while an electromag netic switch 4- is providedto connect said battery to the opposite side of said circuit. an electromagnetic relay 5 being provided to control the energizing circuit of said switch. The switch 4 is provided with a shunt winding 4 adapted to be connected across the charging circuit by the relay, a resistance 2' being included in series therewith.

The relay 5 is provided with a shunt winding 5 and series winding 5 the latter being connected between the battery and switch 4. The shunt Winding 5 has one terminal connected to line 1 of the charging circuit on the left hand side of the battery while the opposite terminal of said winding is connected through a portion of a resistance r to the right hand side of said battery and through the remaining portion of resistance r to line 2 of the charging circuit.

Thus if the battery is so connected between line 1 and resistance r that upon closure of knife switch 3 its positive and negative terminals are respectively connected to the positive and negative terminals of the generator through said resistance, the shunt windingof relay 5 will be supplied with current from the generator and the battery and will respond to energize switch 4. Switch 4 in responding will complete the charging circuit, i. e., the heavy line circuit, and in so doing will energize the series winding of relay 5 causing said Winding to assist in holding said relay closed. On. the other hand, it the battery is so connected between line 1 and resistance 7'' that the knife switch connectsthe battery and generator terminals of opposite polarity, the point of connection of the shunt winding of the relay to the resistance rwill-become a neutral point whereby the voltage impressed on winding 5* will be practically nil, thus rendering the relay unresponsive. Under such conditions the switch 4. will remain open thus preventing completion of the charging circuit.

If after the charging circuit is completed the generator voltage fails or falls so that the battery tends to discharge, the current through the series winding of relay 5 will be reversed causing said Winding to oppose the shunt Winding, with the result of effecting opening of the relay and de-energization of the switch 4. This will interrupt the charging circuit but with the arrangement shown restoration of the generator voltage to normal will effect re-energization of the relay to again energize switch 4t for reclosing the charging circuit automatically.

Referring to Fig. 2, the same shows all of the aforesaid elements of Fig. 1, said elements being designated by the same reference characters as in Fig. 1. In addition to such elements this figure shows a normally open push button switch 6 for controlling the shunt winding of relay 5, resistances T and r associated with said relay and a resistance 1, which is provided for a purpose *connectedthe relay in plete the charging circ oai herci pear As in b of its shunt Winding c4 iccted to rcsistsnxe 1* at an nterniedjiate point but in this in stance its! opposite terminal connected tlurough resistance r tothe push button switch (5 and through the resistances r and r in series to its own contact arm. The push button switch (5 is connected directly to line 1. oi the charging; circuit and when closed estahlishcs for the shinit Winding of the relay the-same conncctimis as in Fig, 1 except for the inch sion of resistance in series with said Winding.

Accordingly if the battery s .irn oropcrly not respond to the push button si itch but it it is prooer' connected said relay we described and upon clue on :itted.

in. l, the relay 5 has one termin use will shunt the pushbutton switch to establish a maintaining circuit for its sh t including the resistance r l "rt said in closing Will energize the'switch 4.- to cornand will upon failure or falling of the generator voltage tie-energize said switch above describ Under the latter conditionsthe relay in open inc; will interrupt the circuit of its shunt .'ii1diii ,'tluis i'iccess" n rech u oi? the push button switch 6 for re-estal1l hnunt off the charging circuit. in this i1, lice it is to be noted that the current flowing througlii the shunt Winding ol relay is normally reduced by inclusion oi? the re sistai'ices which w end 7" i1 series there i obviously renders said relay more sensiu e to r versals of current through its se Windin The resistance is provided merely to enable safe charging of a battery Whose voltage is less than that/ct the generator, which is sometimes desired fWhen such a resistance is employed-it is necessary to pro portion the values ii the sectlons oi. re-

sistance 1" according to the relative values of the battery and generator voltages,

While it is considered"advisable in most instances to utilize the relay and switch above described, it to he under-shied that a single switch might he s nloyed in lieu thereof, said switch control the charging circuit -nd being PIO'VlflGCl W h Windi and circuit connections like those of relay 5.

What it claim as new and desire to secure .lietters Patent is:

In combination, a storage battery, it eharging circuit therefor and automatic moans tor completing a connection between said battery and said circuit, said means including an elcctro-remjonsive control Wind- 111g, r sistance and circuit connections for sand windingincluding said res1stance to Sub ect said winding to influence by and cry and. said charging circuitwhereby energization of said Winding is render d dependent upon connection of a given terminal of said battery to a given side of said charging circuit.

J. in combination, a storage battery, a 'cl arging' circuit therefor and electro-responsive nieans for establishing a connection therebei' weer said means including a Windrug havn- 3 connections \y' and char 7 h said battery ing circuit and resistance in said con nections to render energization ofsaid Winding; dependent upon connection of each ter minal thereof to given terminals of said battery and charging circuit,

In combination, storage battery, a charging circuit therefor, electroresponsive means including; a switch 'forcomiecting; said side of said circuit, and a said. six n and insaid in cans ha ring; thereof connected between in series with sum thereof and the tort-lei having: connections With said charging circuit and said hat ery including resists/i ce renderin its energiniinals i charging circuit and said battery.

in witness wherci'z'l r l: have subscribed my name.

hereunto ALBE J. HlI-ZETUN.

thereof to given"terminals of sum 

